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Clarke County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Clarke County, Alabama has a population of 22,543, the 43rd most populous county in Alabama. The median household income is $49,249 and the median home value is $121,700. The poverty rate is 20.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Clarke County Quick Facts

Population 22,543
Median Household Income $49,249
Median Home Value $121,700
Poverty Rate 20.1%
Unemployment Rate 9.2%
Median Age 42.8 years
Homeownership Rate 70.8%
Affordability Ratio 2.5x
Bachelor's Degree+ 15.0%
High School Graduation 86.1%
Cities/Places 8
Population 22,543 43rd of 67
Median Income $49,249 23% lower than state
Poverty Rate 20.1%
Unemployment 9.2%

How Clarke County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population22,80222,543-1.1%
Median household income$49,167$49,249+0.2%
Median home value$126,400$121,700-3.7%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 28.5%
$25K-$50K 22.2%
$50K-$100K 26.1%
$100K+ 23.2%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
10.4%
$10K-$15K
4.7%
$15K-$20K
4.8%
$20K-$25K
8.6%
$25K-$30K
4.0%
$30K-$35K
6.5%
$35K-$40K
5.6%
$40K-$45K
2.9%
$45K-$50K
3.2%
$50K-$60K
7.0%
$60K-$75K
8.1%
$75K-$100K
11.0%
$100K-$125K
8.1%
$125K-$150K
5.8%
$150K-$200K
4.6%
$200K+
4.7%

Employment

9.2% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
50.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.8%
Renter 29.2%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $782/mo 19.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

54out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 53 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Clarke County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Jackson4,589$37,94826.1%$130,900
Thomasville3,619$42,67120.2%$116,000
Grove Hill2,341$59,21918.2%$126,800
Fulton431$60,9260.7%$117,300
Coffeeville237$30,15620.4%$82,000
Rockville223N/A0.0%N/A
Whatley162$68,9140.0%N/A
Carlton35N/A0.0%N/A

Population Overview

Clarke County is located in Alabama with a total population of 22,543. It is the 43rd most populous county out of 67 in Alabama. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clarke County is 42.8 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clarke County is $49,249. This is 23% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.1%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.2%. This is 96% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $121,700. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Clarke County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clarke County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 51.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 44.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (44.6% vs 25.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 5.6%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

15.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 28.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Clarke County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Alabama and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Clarke County, Alabama?

Clarke County has a population of 22,543, making it the 43rd most populous county in Alabama.

What is the median income in Clarke County?

The median household income in Clarke County is $49,249 with a poverty rate of 20.1%.

How many cities are in Clarke County, Alabama?

Clarke County contains 8 Census-designated places.